New EPA Toxics Release Inventory report shows decline in chemical releases in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska | US EPA

March 3, 2022

SEATTLE (March 3, 2022) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its 2020 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis, showing companies that manage chemicals are continuing to make progress in preventing pollution and reducing chemical releases into the environment. The report indicates that between 2019 and 2020, total releases of TRI chemicals nationwide decreased by 10 percent and chemical releases continue to decrease in EPA’s Region 10.

In 2020, TRI facilities in EPA’s Region 10 — which covers Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington –managed 978 million pounds of production-related waste, and released or otherwise disposed of 701 million pounds of waste. Chemical waste releases reported in Region 10 have decreased by 25 percent since 2011. For 2020, chemical waste releases decreased by 10 percent from 2019 levels, excluding the metal mining sector and four percent of Region 10 facilities reported implementing new source reduction activities.

Metal mines drive the quantity of chemical waste managed and released in Alaska. At metal mines, changes in production volumes and in the chemical composition of the extracted ore can vary substantially from year to year, impacting waste quantities reported to TRI and accounting for annual fluctuations in release quantities. To learn more about metal mining operations and their TRI reporting, explore the interactive metal mining diagram.

The 2020 TRI National Analysis includes enhancements to make data more useful and accessible to communities, including communities with environmental justice concerns. EPA has added demographic information to the “Where You Live” mapping tool, making it easy to overlay maps of facility locations with maps of overburdened and vulnerable communities. Community groups, policymakers, and other stakeholders can use this information to identify potential exposures to air and water pollution, better understand if communities are experiencing a disproportionate pollution burden, and take action at the local level.

In addition to the new community mapping tools, the TRI National Analysis provides a new map in the data visualization dashboard that displays international transfers of chemical waste by facilities in each state. Additionally, the National Analysis includes a new profile of the cement manufacturing sector and the addition of greenhouse gas reporting information in certain sector profiles. Users will be able to track greenhouse gas emissions for electric utilities, chemical manufacturing, cement manufacturing, and other sectors. This section will also include information on the benefits of source reduction in these industries.

To assist communities with reducing pollution, EPA is offering $23 million in grant funding opportunities for states and tribes to develop and provide businesses with information, training, and tools to help adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices. For the first time, approximately $14 million in grant funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is available with no cost sharing or matching requirement, increasing access to funding for all communities. These grants are a critical component of the President’s Justice40 initiative by providing a meaningful benefit to communities impacted by legacy pollution issues. EPA will administer this program in accordance with this initiative to ensure at least 40 percent of the benefits are delivered to underserved communities.

Background
With the passage of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 that created EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory Program, and the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, which expanded the program, Americans have greater awareness of how chemicals are being managed in their communities. Today, more than 21,000 facilities report annually on over 800 chemicals they release into the environment or otherwise manage as waste. EPA, states, and tribes receive TRI data from facilities in industry sectors such as manufacturing, mining, electric utilities, and commercial hazardous waste management.

Access the 2020 TRI National Analysis, including local data and analyses, at: www.epa.gov/trinationalanalysis.

Learn about facility efforts to reduce TRI chemical releases at: www.epa.gov/tri/p2.

EPA’s Region 10 serves communities in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and 271 Tribal Nations. Learn more about EPA’s work in the Pacific Northwest at: epa.gov/epa-region-10-pacific-northwest. Connect with us on Twitter: @EPAnorthwest and Facebook: @eparegion10.